Apparatus for cleaning grain and destroying the insect life therein



F. 5. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLE 2,635,309 ANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING EINSECT LIFE THEREIN April 21, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. '7, 1949INVENTOR lllllllllll Ewan/Win S. SmiZ/L BY L 6% 63% 2 ATTORNEYS April21, 1953 F. 5. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING THEINSECT LIFE THEREIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1949 Apnl 21, 1953F. 5. SMITH 2,635,309

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING GRAIN AND DESTROYING THE INSECT LIFE THEREINFiled Sept. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet a D D D D DD an I: uuuuucln DDDUD nuu m: IUJUJJJJJ Ji 1 i DUUDUCI DU DGDCIDQEDGEEEQ lNVENTOR ATTORNEYSPatented Apr. 21, 1953 r. orr ca erreaa'rns roan cashmere GRAIN ANDnas'rno rrne 'rnu INSECT LIFE 'rnuanrn Franklin s. Smith, North Haven;oonn.

Application September 7, 1949; SerialNo. 114,431

11 Claims.

liTliis invention relates to apparatusior treat' mg grain that] is, thekernelsof the various cereals. i

Brieiiy the machine includes'a spout, gener- .;ally'indicated at. it.Grain flowing downwardly "through spot it enters a funnel-shaped injeotorfconduit, generally indicated at lz into an air stream generated by acentrifugal'constant L pressure blower i l. The air stream acceleratesthe grain downwardly through conduit 16 onto .ai'conoidal member,generally indicated at is.

The outer portionsof conoidal member it and the inner surface ofconoidal shell 2% form a ponverging divergingnozzle l9 which acceleratesanddirects thegrainand air stream in a gen- :eral radial directionagainst a target array in the form or" a simple labyrinth, generallyindicated at 24 (Figures 1 and 4), positioned out- Wardlyther'efrom. Thetarget array consists of a plurality of vertically-positioned.cylindrically shaped targets presenting 'elastomer surfaces such a'srubber of about 50 durometer hardness. The grain impacts the targets ofthe target array with sufficient intensity to cause lethal shockswhichdestroy the life of insect infestation of the grain and also toseparate the dirt from the grain, particularly the dirt in crevices inthe 1 grain such as the dirt in, the crease in a grain fof wheat.

" The majority of the kernels strike the targets 24 withouthitt'ing thescreen 2% and fall down- Wardlyin the machine through its funnel-shapedlower portion and thence into conduit 26. Dirt and other foreignparticles are carried between 1 the targets of the array by the airstream and [thence through a screen, generally indicated at 28 (Figures1, 4 and into passageways 3t and lectors 34 and 36 (Figure 2). The dirtis sepa- L'rated from the air stream in the dust collectors and the airstream passes upwardly through conduit 38 to inlet of blower i land iscirculated through the machine. The dirt and other foreign material passdownwardly in the cyclone collector and are discharged from a hopper 40by a conventional air lock valve 42 which is driven by a .motor (notshown).

One of the objects is to provide an apparatus capable of fine cleaning,to be employed after the customary grain screening and cleaning whichseparates the relatively coarse foreign materials .irom the grainstream. Another objectis to j provideapparatus oithe above characterwhich l 2 i 1 j, will be simple, practical and thoroughly durable.Another object is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the abovecharacter for simultaneously destroying the life of insect infestationand fine cleaning of the grain. Another object is to provide apparatusof the above character capable or destroying the'life. of'insectinfjestation without shattering sound. kernels. Another object is theinclusion of. means within'apparatus of the above character forefiecting. a separation of dust, crease dirt, small insects, insect ishown one of the various i lined-4 of Figure 1;

tioned; and

particles and small. foreign particles from the grain. Other objectswill beiin part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. I j Theinvention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement. of parts, all as will beillustratively described herein andthe scope ofthe application of whichwill be indicated in thefollowing claims. l i

In the accompanying drawings, in which is possible embodiments of thisinvention, 1 2..

Figure lis a side elevation of themachine with certain parts in sectionand others broken away for urposesiof illustration; f

Figure 2 isa side elevation of the cyclone dust collectors taken fromthe line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan of the'machineshown inFlgurel; Figure 4 is a horizontal: sectiontaken on the Figure 5 is avertical section'on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5-5 of Figure'3;

.Figure 6 is a plan ,on anenlarged scale of the lower ends of a seriesof the targets taken from the direction of the arrows 6 inFigurel;

Figure 7 is a side elevation onan enlarged scale of :a'single target,certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration; t

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a portionjof the conduit leading tograin inlet of apparatus, certainportions of. this figurebeingvertically see- Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section l andpartly in elevation of a portion oftheponduit through which grainpassesfrom the machine.

Similar reference characters refer to: similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings. i

Referring now to Figure l, the machine is supported by four legs, lt,at, 45 and 46. All of the legs are siinilarin construction to leg 54(Figures 1, 3 and 5) and includesections' dt and 58 (Figure Thesesections coact to support the funnel-shaped casting, generally indicatedat 52 (Figures 1 and 5), and a ring-shaped casting 54 (Figures 1, 3 and5), which form the framework of the machine. The lower portion of legsection 58 (Figure 5) extends into the hollow interior of section 48 andis pinned thereto by a pin 56. Section 58 extends through a hole 58 incasting 52, and casting 52 rests upon the upper end of section 48. Aplug 68 is mounted in the upper end of section 58 and is pinned theretoby a pin 62. Plug 68 extends through a hole 64 in casting 54, andcasting 5'4 rests upon the. upper end of section 58. Casting 54 is heldagainst the upper end of section 58 by means of a nut 66 threaded on theupper endofplug B8. The four legs thus support castings 52 and 54 inspaced relationship with respect to each other to form a framework forthe machine.

The targets in the target array are mounted onshell 28. l. and 5)includes an outwardly extending an- The outer edge of shell 28 (Figuresnular flange 28a which extends over an inwardly extendin flange 54a oncasting 54. Thus, casting 54 supports shell 28 with respect to themachine. Shell 28 includes a horizontal target supporting section 28b ofcircular shape on which the targets are mounted. Each target consists ofa rod 18 (Figure '7) having its upper end threaded and having anelastomer cover I 2 molded thereon. The elastomer surfaced targets areof a hardness which does not shatter the sound kernels upon impact;however such kernels that have been reduced to mere shells due to insectof a simple labyrinth, the targets in the circles beinginsta'g'gered,relationship 'with respect to each other so that eachtarget covers the space between a pair of targets in the other circle oftargets (Figure 6). The rod I8 (Figure 5) of each target I2 extendsthrough a vertical hole in section 281) of shell 28 (Figure 5) and issecured to'section 2811 by means of a nut, such as nu't 14.

Conoidal member I8, which, as pointed out hereinabove, forms a nozzle I9in conjunction with shell 28 to direct the stream of grain against thetargets, is supported by three supporting rods, two of which are shownin Figure 1. These rods 16 have their upper ends positioned in socketssuch as socket I8 in conoidal member I8 and their lower ends extend intosockets, such as socket 88, formed in casting 52. These rods rigidlysupport the conoidal member so that it forms a circular nozzle 22 whichdirects the air stream and grain against the target array at an angleslightly downwardly from the horizontal.

After the air stream and grain strike the targets 12, the dirt and otherforeign material is shaken loose from the grain and is carried by theair "stream outwardly through a cylindricallyshaped screen 28 (Figures1, 4 and 5). Screen 28 has a plurality of horizontal slots 84, the widthof which is smaller than the type of grain being cleaned but issuiiiciently large to permit dust, dirt, mites, and most insectsinfesting stored grain to pass therethrough. It might be well at thispoint to note that as heretofore pointed out, the apparatus hereindescribed is primarily concerned with What has been termed finecleaning. In other words, this apparatus is installed in the millstreamto receive grain which has gone 4 through preliminary screening andcleaning apparatuses which separates relatively coarse par ticles ofdirt and foreign materials, such as bits of wood and iron, verminexcreta and other Darticles commonly found in raw grain fed into themillstream from storage. In other words, the grain which is treated bythe present device is relatively clean, being adulterated by relativelyfine particles of dirt, excreta or other material,- and such small dirtor other particles adhering to the grain kernels or being lodged in thecreases thereof. These particles of dirt and other foreign matter arealmost invariably of considerably smaller size than the grain particlesthemselves; although there might well be present adult insects, althoughin small proportion, which are individually larger than the largestkernels. Less mature insect infestation might also be present, but wouldbe in the egg, larvae or pupae stages; In any event, the apparatus isintended to, separate from the grain only those entrained particleswhich are smaller than the grain kernels themselves, any largerparticles passing along with the grain kernels into the millstream forsubsequent treatment. Referring to Figure5, it will be noted that the'width of slots 84 gradually increases as each slot is followedoutwardly toward passageways 38and 32 (Figure 4). This prevents theslots from being clo ged by dirt, as any particle which enters a slot iscarried therethrough by the air stream. Screen 28 overlaps and ismounted on axially concentric cylindrically-shaped seats 88 and 88formed on shell 28 and casting 52. The ends of screen 28 overlap and areheld together by a series of screws, such as screw 88. The screen'28 hasa sufficient slot area therein to prevent excessive air flow resistance.To dissipate the electric charg on the grain and the grain dust, a lug51 connected to casting 52 by screw 59 is grounded by conductor 6I(Figure 5). To insure good electrical contact between screen 28 andcasting 52, screen 28 is connected to casting 52 by screw 63.

Passageways 38 and 32 function as semi-volute channels (Figure 4), eachgradually increasing in width and consequently in cross section from thesplitter 94- to the outlet port 86. The outer wall of both passageways38 and 32 is formed by a band 98 (Figure 5) which is clamped against apair of seats I88 and I82 formed on castings '52 and 54. Seats I88 andI82 are cylindrical in shape but are eccentric with respect to seats 86and '88 to make passageways 38 and 32 (Figure 4) increase in width asthey are followed to the right, as viewed in Figure 4. The ends 88a and98b of band 98 are connected to a casting of rectangular shape invertical cross section, generally indicated at I84, which includesportions Ma and I I l4b which extend outwardly behind band '94 and whichforms the outlet port for passageways 38 and 32. The ends 88a and 98b.'of band 88 are connected to casting I84 by cap screws I86 and I88,which, when tightened, draw the band 98 tightly against seats I88 andI82 (Figure '4). Thus, it will be seen that band 88 and screen 28 areeasily removable so that the argets of t target array are readilyaccessible and the interior of the machine may be qu y cleaned.

To direct the air stream flowing through the left-hand portion of screen28 (Figure 4) to the right passageways 38 and 32, splitter 9.4 is Plmvided. Splitter 94 (Figure 1) extends from the top to the bottom ofscreen 28 and is secured along one vertical edge to band 98 by rivetsI18. It

will be noticed that the two sides of splitter 94 into conduit 26.

asadena l' a'rel curved to direct the air streamupwardly and"downwardly, as viewed in Figure 4, into passageways 311 and 32. At theopposite ends of passageways 30 and 32 are a pair ofvertically-positioned curvedguiding plates l2 and! I l. The upper andlower ends of these guiding plates are secured to casting I04 in anysuitable manner (not shown) 'andthey serve to direct the air streamflowing through passageways 30 and 32 outwardly through port'flfi. Itwill be noted that the right- :"handends of plates H2 and H4 are spacedwith respect to each other. This permits the air stream fiowingthroughthe portion of screenZB coveredby guiding plates [I2 and lit to flowfinto'the passageway II6 (Figure 4) through port 96. Thus, the airstream is guided through passageways 39 and 32 fromthe left to theright, as viewed in Figure i, and the passageways gradually increase incross-sectional area to permit the air stream to flow through the screen28 evenly "from all directions.

The air stream and foreign material passing "from port 96 (Figure 4)enters passageway I 95 (Figure 1) which is connected to the intake portsof a pair of cyclone dustcollectors as and 36.. *The' dirtand otherforeign material is separated from the air stream in the cyclone dustcollectors, ffi'the dirt passing downwardly through the lower ends ofthe cyclone collectors into hopper All (Figuresl and 2) and isdischarged from hopper :40 by means of airlock valve 12 driven by amotor (not shown). (collector passes upwardly through conduits I28 andI22into a conduit I24 connected to the intake port of blower It. '-I26and generates an air stream which flows The air stream from each dustBlower i4 is driven by a motor through conduit I38 into a volute casingI32.

"Volutecasing I32 in conjunction with injector conduit I2 serves todistribute the air stream 'f-evenly into conduit It so that the grainpassing "ffrom the lower end of spout It is accelerated downwardly anduniformly into nozzle I9.

a If spout It is relatively short and to prevent "the air stream fromflowing upwardly through These secwardly flow of grain. A series ofsections I 2%, Hi2

' and I44 (Figure 9) are also provided in conduit 26 for a similarpurpose. In operation, the high velocity air stream gen- 'erated byconstant pressure blower "through conduit ISE! and volute casing I32 andthence through injector conduit I2. The low velocitygrain stream, whichis the grain and its entrained air, flows downwardly through spout Iinto injector conduit [2 within which the two streams become confluent.The air stream accelcrates the grain stream through conduit I6- andfconoidal nozzle I9 and from nozzle outlet 22."

The kernels pass outwardly from nozzle I9 in a general radial directionand strike targets l2, A

l majority of the kernels pass downwardly through the funnel-shapedlower portion of themachine Some kernels carom between l the targets tothe screen, whereagain they fall downwardly into the lower portion ofthe ma- M chineand thus into conduit 25 as they cannot pass throughscreen, 28. As pointed out hereinaboye the targets. are sospaced withrespect to 75.:

{each other that every kernel of grain .strikes a target'which loosensthe dirt thereon, theimpact also killing'any insect life. 1

The :dirt and other foreign material passes outwardly through the slots.84in screen 28 into =passageways 30 and 32' (Figure 4).

Thesplitter 94 directs the air stream passing through the left-hand sideof the screen, as viewed in Figure 4, upwardly and downwardly. Becausethe pas- "sageways 30 and 32 gradually increase in cross sectional areathroughout theirlengtha they accominodate the air stream passing throughscreen 23 so that it flows substantially uniformly therethrough. 5

The air stream is guided by guiding plates theair stream (Figures 1 and2), theair stream passing upwardly through conduits I20 and I22,

and the foreign material passing downwardly into. hopper 40. The airstream passing up- -wardly through conduits I20 and I22 feeds blower Il, which circulates theair through the machine.

. The dirtand foreign material with its entrained air. aredischargedfrom. the machine by' means of an air lock valve 42. 1

By directing the grainiagainst targets of the type-described, noshattering of sound kernels takes place. The grain is sim'plysubjectedto a shocksufficient to remove all dirt. therefrom, including the creasedirt and the shock also 'destroys the insect .life of infestation of thea grain. The targets accomplish this because they are. surfaced withanelastomer which is not deformed beyond its elastic limit and whichabsorbs a suflicient amount of the shock toprevent fracture of soundkernels and also because the targets do not have any edges.

It (will be seen that practical and efficient apparatus has beendescribed for. cleaning grain and. destroying the insect. life therein.The

velocity with which the grain strikes the targets may be 'on the orderof. 200 feet per second as a maximum upon. impact and is. readilycontrolled .by varying the speed of. .the blower. Furthermore, thetargets are so constructed and positioned that all kernels of grain aresubjected to shock which separates the dirt from the .kernels but doesnot shatter them. It willthus be seen that the several objectshereinabove a mentioned, as well as many others, have been successfullyaccomplished. l As many possible embodiments may be made of the aboveinvention, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it isto be understood that all matter hereinabove .setforth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in. alimiting sense. 1

' What is claimed is:

- '1. In apparatus of the type described, in com- I bination, a conduit,a blower for forcing a high velocity stream of air through said conduit,means for introducing the product being treated into said stream of air,a substantially annular shaped target array including a plurality ofvertically positioned targets, and means to direct the stream of air andsaid product against said target array so that the individual particlesof the product strike the vertical targets.

2. In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit, blowerfor forcing a high velocity stream of air through said conduit, meansfor introducing the product being treated array,

into said stream ofair, an elastomer surfaced target, means to directthe stream of air and said product against said target, and a screenlocated adjacentsaidtarget through which most of said air stream.-passes after carrying the product being treated against. said target,the

openings in said screen being of "smaller size 'than the size-of theparticles comprising the product being treated, said air stream carryingdirt and'other foreign 'materialparticles of a size smaller than saidproductnparticles through said screen.

3. In'apparatus of the type described; incombination, a conduit, ablower for forcing a stream of air through said conduit, means forintroducing theprodu'ct:particles. being treated into said stream ofair, a target array in the form of a simple. labyrinth, means to directthe stream of air and entrained particles through. said target said "airstream carrying the product being treated'against said targets,andscreening means adjacent said target array through which most of "saidair stream passes after ipassing through said target array, saidscreeningmeans having 'openings' of smaller size than the size oftheproduct'particles being treated,

said screening means separating the product being treated? from"particles of dirt and other foreign materialsjwhich are smaller thanthe product particles.

4; In. apparatus. of-the type described, in

combination,'a conduit, a blower for forcing a high velocity stream ofair through said conduit, means for introducing the product particlesbeing treatedeintorsaid stream of air, a "substantially annular-shapedtarget array "including a, plurality of vertically positioned. elastomersurfaced targets, a'converging-diverging nozzle having a circular nozzleoutletpositioned inwardly from 'said' target array, means to direct thestream of "air and said product through said nozzle against said targetarray, and means surrounding: said target array for separating-said airstreamfrom'thepro'duct being treated.

5. In apparatus of the type described: in combination, a conduit, ablower for forcing a stream "of. 'air throughsaid conduit, means forintroducing the product being treated; into said stream of air, anannular-shaped target array including rows of vertically. positionedtargets, the targets in said rows being positioned in staggered andoverlapping relationship. with respect to each other, each target beingsubstantially cylindrically-shaped and, having an elastomer surface, andmeans for directing said air. stream and the product being treatedagainst said target; array.

'6. 'In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit,means including a blower for forcing a high velocity stream ofairthrough said conduit, a spout forintroducing the product beingtreated into said" conduit, a target array including a plurality-felastomer surfaced-targets, a nozzle to direct; the stream ofair againstsaid target array to e-arrythe product being treated against saidtargets, screening means adjacent said target array through which mostof saidair stream passesafter Ca y the p d t bein treated: against.said, target array, the openings in: said screen being smaller than theparticles.

comprising the product being treated, said screening means 'separating.the product: particles being treated"from particles of. dirt andz'otherforeign materials which are smaller than the product particles -saidparticles 'of dirt and forfaced targets positioned outwardly fromsaidnoz- 'eign materials being carried through thescrefi by the airstream, and a hopper for collecting the product particles aftertreatment.

7. In apparatus of-the type described, incombination, a conduit, ablower for forcing a stream of air through saidconduit, a spout forintroducing the product being treated into said conduit, anannular-shaped target arrayincludinga plurality of vertically positionedtargets in staggered-overlapping relationship with respectrto eachother, a converging-diverging nozzle .disposedwithin said array andhaving a circular outlet for directingthe air stream and the productbeing'treated against said target array,..and

vertically-positioned screening means positioned outwardly-from saidtarget array to separate the product-being treated from said air stream.

to each other, each target being substantially cylindrically-shaped andhaving an elastomer surface, a nozzle positioned within said array andhaving a circular outlet for directing said air stream and the productparticles-being treated against said target-arraya substantiallycylindrically-shaped screen positioned outwardly from said target array,the openings in saidscreen being smaller than the size of the particlesof the product being treated, and a. hopper formeceiving all particlesthat do not, pass through said screen.

9. In apparatus of the type described, incombination, a conduit, ablowerfor forcing a stream of air through said conduit, 3, spout forintroducing the product particles being treated-into said stream of air,a conoidal; member, the-axis of said conoidal member beingverticallypositioned andaligned with the axisiof the portiorrof saidconduit positioned directly above: saidconoidal member, means coactingwith saidconoidal member to form a converging-diverging nozzle having acircular outlet opening at the lower edge of said. conoidal member,a-substantially annular-shaped target array in the form -of a labyrinthincluding a plurality of elastomersurzle, said nozzle directing saidstream of air, and the entrained product against said target array, andmeans surrounding said. array for separating said stream of air andparticles of dirt and, other foreign materialsfrom thepro'duct beingtreated.

10. In apparatus "of-the type described, in combination, a conduit, ablower for, forcing a stream of air, a conoidal member, the axis'of,said coof air through said conduit, a spoutforintroducing theproductbeing treated into said stream noidal member being verticallypositioned and aligned with the aXis of the portion of said conduitpositioned directlyabove said conoidal'member, means coacting with saidconoidal member to form a nozzle having acircular outlet opening at thelower edge of said conoidal member, a

substantially annular-shaped target array including a plurality ofelastomer surfaced targets havingsurfaces positioned outwardly from saidnozzle, said nozzle directing said stream of "air and the product beingtreated against said'target array, and: a substantially verticallypositioned :"screen.positioned outwardly from said target array,through. which most-aorsaid air stream 9 passes, the holes in saidscreen being of smaller size than the size of the particles of theproduct being treated, whereby said screen separates the product beingtreated from said stream of air, and hopper means positioned beneathsaid screen for collecting the treated product.

11. In apparatus of the type described, in combination, a conduit, ablower for forcing a stream of air through said conduit, a spout forintroducing the product being treated into said stream of air, an arrayof annular-shaped targets, said target array including a plurality ofvertically positioned targets having elastic resilient exteriorsurfaces, a conoidal member for directing said stream of air and theproduct being treated outwardly against the inside of said target array,a vertically positioned annular-shaped screen surrounding said targetarray, the holes in said screen being of smaller size than the particlesof the 10 product being treated, a passageway positioned outwardly fromsaid screen, most of said air stream passing through said screen intosaid pas sageway and carrying particles of dirt and other foreignmaterial capable of passing through said screen with it, a hopper forcollecting the treated product, means connected to said passageway forseparating said dirt and other foreign material from said air stream,and means connecting said last-mentioned mean to said blower.

FRANKLIN S. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,339,733 Smith Jan. 18, 1944 2,339,735 Smith Jan. 18, 19442,339,737 Hulse Jan. 18, 1944

